Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Seeking care for epilepsy and its impacts on households in a rural district in southern Malawi
Submitted: 03 January 2013 | Published: 30 September 2013
About the author(s)
Alister Munthali, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi, MalawiStine H. Braathen, SINTEF Technology and Society, Oslo, Norway
Lisbet Grut, SINTEF Technology and Society, Oslo, Norway
Yusman Kamaleri, SINTEF Technology and Society, Oslo, Norway
Benedicte Ingstad, Department of Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Abstract
Objectives: This article explores the health-seeking behaviour of people with epilepsy in a rural town in southern Malawi and how having a person with epilepsy impacts on the households’ productivity.
Method: A snowball approach was used to identify persons with various forms of disabilities. The article is based on a bigger study carried out in Malawi which explored how persons with disabilities seek health care. In this bigger study, a total of 63 interviews were done with persons with disabilities or their guardians. Eight of the 63 interviews were with persons with epilepsy and this article is based on these interviews.
Results: The study found that persons with epilepsy seek both traditional and modern medicines to treat the condition. Informants mentioned that barriers to accessing western treatment include lack of medicines, congestion at health facilities, lack of knowledge about epilepsy, misdiagnosis by health workers and the belief that epilepsy caused by witchcraft cannot be treated by western medicine. The study also highlights the wider impacts of epilepsy on the household such as the failure of children to attend school, children dropping out of school, stigma and discrimination and households being driven deeper into poverty as a result of seeking care for members with epilepsy.
Conclusion: The existing barriers to accessing treatment for epilepsy can be addressed by using a combination of public education, simple treatments and regular reviews. Ensuring constant availability of drugs for the treatment of epilepsy is key to effective treatment of the condition. This would contribute to closing the treatment gap for epilepsy as advocated by the Global Campaign against Epilepsy.Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 10097Total article views: 15589
Crossref Citations
1. Parent-carers of children with physical disabilities in a rural South African setting: Their cultural and social resourcing
Marubini Christinah Sadiki, Israel Kibirige
Journal of Psychology in Africa vol: 30 issue: 4 first page: 336 year: 2020
doi: 10.1080/14330237.2020.1796029
2. First choice of treatment place in the pathways to epileptic care at the outpatient department of University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: Cross-sectional institutional based study
Berhanu Boru Bifftu, Berihun Assefa Dachew, Bewket Tadesse Tiruneh, Wondale Getinet Alemu, Andrea Romigi
PLOS ONE vol: 12 issue: 8 first page: e0181310 year: 2017
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181310
3. “This one will delay us”: barriers to accessing health care services among persons with disabilities in Malawi
Alister C. Munthali, Leslie Swartz, Hasheem Mannan, Malcolm MacLachlan, Charles Chilimampunga, Cecilia Makupe
Disability and Rehabilitation vol: 41 issue: 6 first page: 683 year: 2019
doi: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1404148
4. Combining survey data, GIS and qualitative interviews in the analysis of health service access for persons with disabilities
Arne H. Eide, Karin Dyrstad, Alister Munthali, Gert Van Rooy, Stine H. Braathen, Thomas Halvorsen, Frans Persendt, Peter Mvula, Jan Ketil Rød
BMC International Health and Human Rights vol: 18 issue: 1 year: 2018
doi: 10.1186/s12914-018-0166-2
5. Biomedical drugs and traditional treatment in care seeking pathways for adults with epilepsy in Masindi district, Western Uganda: a household survey
Elizeus Rutebemberwa, Charles Ssemugabo, Raymond Tweheyo, John Turyagaruka, George William Pariyo
BMC Health Services Research vol: 20 issue: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4879-2
6. Epilepsy‐Induced Intestinal Barrier Disruption: Protective Effects of Rosa Canina Seed Oil on Duodenal Morphology and Junctional Integrity
Nevruz Alis, Onur Onguncan, Sabire Guler, Ebru Yorukoglu, Fusun Sonat, Ender Uzabaci
Neurogastroenterology & Motility vol: 38 issue: 2 year: 2026
doi: 10.1111/nmo.70258
7. Palliative care needs of patients living with end-stage kidney disease not treated with renal replacement therapy: An exploratory qualitative study from Blantyre, Malawi
Maya J. Bates, Alex Chitani, Gavin Dreyer
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine vol: 9 issue: 1 year: 2017
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v9i1.1376
8. Determinants of Care-Seeking Practices for Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria
Oladele Simeon Olatunya, Adefunke Olarinre Babatola, Adewuyi Temidayo Adeniyi, Olubunmi Adeola Lawal, Alaba Olanrewaju Daramola, Tosin Anthony Agbesanwa, Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo, Paul Oladapo Ajayi, Adeleke Ajayi Ibijola, Akinwumi Kolawole Komolafe, Adekunle Adekile
Journal of Blood Medicine vol: Volume 12 first page: 123 year: 2021
doi: 10.2147/JBM.S294952
9. Global Health and Epilepsy: Update and Future Directions
Mary C. Spiciarich, Jane R. von Gaudecker, Laura Jurasek, Dave F. Clarke, Jorge Burneo, Jorge Vidaurre
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports vol: 19 issue: 6 year: 2019
doi: 10.1007/s11910-019-0947-6
10. Challenges Associated with Anti-epilepsy Medication and Use of Complementary or Alternative Medicines among People with Epilepsy in Rural Communities of Zimbabwe
Ngonidzashe Mutanana
Malaysian Journal of Medical and Biological Research vol: 6 issue: 2 first page: 77 year: 2019
doi: 10.18034/mjmbr.v6i2.475
11. Anti-seizure effects of medicinal plants in Malawi on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in zebrafish larvae
Mayeso Naomi Victoria Gwedela, Haruhi Terai, Fanuel Lampiao, Katsuyoshi Matsunami, Hidenori Aizawa
Journal of Ethnopharmacology vol: 284 first page: 114763 year: 2022
doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114763